Rio Ferdinand sends warning to Jorginho after Chelsea midfielder joins Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand has warned Jorginho that he won’t start for Premier League leaders Arsenal and will be replaced by a big-money signing in the summer.

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Jorginho ended his five-year spell at Chelsea on transfer deadline day as the 31-year-old completed a £12m move to London rivals Arsenal.

The Italian midfielder made more than 200 appearances for Chelsea and won the Champions League and Europa League at Stamford Bridge.

He has signed an 18-month contract with Arsenal and became Mikel Arteta’s third signing of the January window following Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard.

Jorginho could make his Arsenal debut against Everton next weekend, with the Gunners currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand has praised Arsenal for their ‘shrewd’ deadline-day signing but does not expect Jorginho to make an instant impact at the Emirates.

In fact, Ferdinand doubts Jorginho will be anything more than a squad player for Arteta and says he will likely be replaced in the summer when Arsenal are expected to revive their interest in Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice.

Asked to rate Arsenal’s move for Jorginho, Ferdinand said on the FIVE YouTube channel: ‘I think it’s a good signing. I think it’s shrewd.

‘I’ve been known to criticise Jorginho and just to clarify that, I was criticising him because the way Chelsea played when he first got there, it didn’t help him.

‘There were too many big spaces around him and he was being exposed physically, with a lack of pace and dynamism. They changed the way they played with and without the ball and got bodies near him to help him and that made him a better player.

‘Whatever you think of him, he’s a fine passer of the ball, especially cutting through the lines, he keeps it ticking, we saw that with Italy in the Euros.

‘He’s a fine technician on the ball and I think he will be a point of difference to [Thomas] Partey. He can come in if need be and fill that gap with the experience he’s got.

‘I don’t see him being a starter for Arsenal, I’ve got to be honest. I don’t think Jorginho is a long-term signing. He’s a stop-gap and they will get a big midfielder in the summer.

‘But everything I hear about him as a pro has been positive. Nothing but positive. In the changing room, he’s a leader, he talks and he demands high standards from his team-mates.

‘I bet he can’t wait to go there because Arsenal are top of the Premier League!’

Jorginho, who starred in Italy’s Euro 2020 win, will wear the number 20 shirt for Arsenal.

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